Recording medium, computer and method operating car images on a screen of the computer

ABSTRACT

Operation of a car viewed on a screen of a computer having a controller in a car driving game by pressing or continuing to press simple on-off switches by a user is made into an interface that is easier to use.  
     The operation of the car image on the screen is executed using a recording medium which includes a processing program whereby the program operates the car on the screen in accordance with an output of the controller. The computer has a processing unit that operates the car on the screen according to the output of a controller that has a pressure sensing unit. In addition, a method of using the computer includes detecting the operation pressure of the user on the switches by the pressure sensing unit and generating pressure sensing signals. The car viewed on the screen is operated in accordance with the pressure sensing signals.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a recording medium, a computer, and a method using the computer for making the operation of a car image on a screen by pressing or continuing to press simple on-off switches by a user into an interface that is easier to use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In computer games, a so-called driving game is one in which one car operated by the player competes, on roads formed sequentially on the screen of the computer, with one or multiple other cars operated by the CPU.

[0003] To operate the car, the player presses buttons of a controller for the game machine or handles a steering wheel-type controller.

[0004] Driving games are described in Japanese unexamined patents laid-open H9-163755 (1997), H7-231985 (1995), and H 7-328229 (1995).

[0005] Meanwhile, for computer input devices, for example for the input devices of entertainment systems typified by game machines, there is provided the so-called pressure-sensitive controller. The pressure-sensitive controller outputs as a pressure sensing value, the pressing force of a user on the button of the controller, that results when the player applies pressure with his or her finger to an operation element (button) itself that is connected to a pressure-sensitive element. As a specific example, a pressure-sensitive controller is disclosed in, for example, Japanese examined utility model Publication No. H1-40545 (1989), but here the pressure sensing output is input to a variable control oscillator (VCO), and the output of the VCO is used for rapid firing in the game.

[0006] Causing characters to jump, etc. in accordance with pressure sensing input is disclosed in Japanese patent No. 2524475.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to make the operation of a car imaged on a screen by pressing or continuing to press simple on-off switches into an interface that is easier to use.

[0008] The above and other objects of the present invention are attained by a recording medium on which are recorded driving game software programs that can be read and executed by a computer, including programs that process as commands an output from a controller that has a pressure sensing means, wherein the software programs include processing programs that operate a car imaged on a screen in accordance with the output of the controller.

[0009] A computer of this invention can execute driving game software programs and comprises a controller having a pressure sensing means that detects an operation pressure, of a user applied to a control element of the controller; and processing means that operates a character car on the screen in accordance with the output of the controller.

[0010] A method of the present invention comprises the steps of using a computer that can execute driving game software programs and has a controller having a pressure sensing means, detecting an operation pressure applied by a user on said controller and generating pressure sensing signals, and operating a car viewed on screen of the computer, in accordance with the pressure sensing signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows connection of a controller to an entertainment system;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a driving game on a screen;

[0013] FIGS. 3A-3C show tables for selecting a braking distance, a speed, and a position of a car viewed on the screen according to a pressure sensing value;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of a driving game including a program for braking, acceleration, and steering based on pressure sensing values.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the controller connected to the entertainment system;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the entertainment system.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the controller;

[0018]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the second control part of the controller;

[0019] FIGS. 9A-9C are cross-sectional views of the second control part of FIG. 8;

[0020]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the equivalent circuit of the pressure sensing element;

[0021]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the main parts of the controller;

[0022]FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the first control part of the controller;

[0023]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the first control part of FIG. 12;

[0024]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a circuit composition of the resistor;

[0025]FIG. 15 is a graph showing characteristics of the output signal of the controller;

[0026]FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the overall composition, including the resistor; and

[0027]FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the third control part of the controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] With a controller that uses pressure-sensitive elements, when a controller button, which is an operation or control element, is pressed by a user, the controller not only detects the presence or absence of its pressure sensing output, for example, whether the switch is on or off, but also obtains a pressure sensing value output in accordance with the pushing pressure of the user on the control elements. Meanwhile, in software or a game that makes use of pressure sensing value output, processing or action can be decided on in correspondence with the pressure sensing value output. This embodiment has been made in such a way that even if, for example, a car viewed on the screen is steered or otherwise handled by operation of control elements, the operation quantities of the car vary depending on to the pressure sensing value due to the pressing operation of a user of each control element.

[0029] With this embodiment, in a so-called driving game, when pressure sensing switches for the accelerator, brake, and steering are pressed, the speed setting, braking, and course are changed in accordance with the pressure sensing values. This provides a system with a better user interface than one in which the on operation of a simple on-off switch is repeated or continued.

[0030]FIG. 1 is a diagram, showing a connection of a controller to an entertainment system to enable a user to enjoy game software or images using the entertainment system. A more specific structure is described in connection with FIG. 4 and other figures.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, controller 200, which has buttons connected to pressure sensing elements, positioned inside the controller is connected to entertainment system 500 for playing games or enjoying the images on a DVD video, etc. An image output terminal of the entertainment system is connected to a television monitor 408. Here, the analog output from the pressure sensing elements is converted to digital values from 0 to 255 by an analog-to-digital converter and is supplied to entertainment system 500.

[0032] With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the case in which acceleration, braking, and steering are done and shown on the screen by operation of controller 200 will be now described.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows an example of a driving game. As shown in FIG. 2, the image of a player's car is displayed as seen from the driver's seat on the screen. Shown in this image are a steering wheel H, a car body B, a course C, and a rear-view mirror M, allowing the player to play the game with a greater sense of presence.

[0034] In driving games heretofore, one only performed driving operations by pushing buttons or operating a steering wheel-type controller.

[0035] In this embodiment, the magnitude of the pressure sensing values outputted from the pressure-sensitive controller is reflected as changes in the braking, speed increase, and a course of the car when braking, accelerating, and steering occur. The steering operation is carried out by pressing at least two pressure sensing buttons by one or another of the fingers of the hands of the user, that control those buttons.

[0036] FIGS. 3A-3C show tables for selecting a braking distance, a speed, and a position of the car imaged on the screen in accordance with pressure sensing values. Here, FIG. 3A is a table for selecting the braking distance from the pressure sensing value in braking, FIG. 3B is a table for selecting the speed from the pressure sensing value when the accelerator is pressed with the foot, and FIG. 3C is a table for selecting the position of the car on the course from the difference in pressure sensing values of two pressure sensing switches when steering, that is, for positioning the car in accordance with the steering operation.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, the method by which braking, speed increases, and course changes are made based on the pressure sensing values will be explained. The flowchart FIG. 4 shows the processing of the driving game including programs for doing braking, acceleration, and steering, based on pressure sensing values.

[0038] In FIG. 4, in step S1, it is determined whether there is any input from the pressure-sensitive controller; if “YES”, in step S2 the pressure sensing values are acquired from controller 200.

[0039] In step S3, it is determined whether there is any input from a pressure sensing switch corresponding to steering; if “YES”, processing proceeds to step S4, and in step S4 the steering processing is done; if “NO”, the processing proceeds to step S5. Here, in the steering processing, based on the difference between two pressure sensing values from two pressure sensing switches, the corresponding position information is selected from the table shown in FIG. 3C, an image of the car in the position corresponding to this position information is displayed, and the car's position information on the course is updated in the data.

[0040] The difference from 0 to 255 in absolute value is obtained, and because a difference of 255 means that the car is no longer on course C, a difference of about 50 is selected, in the range where the car does not leave the course C. The middle of course C corresponds to a difference of 0.

[0041] In step S5, it is determined whether there is any input from the pressure sensing switch corresponding to the brake; if “YES”, processing proceeds to step S6, and in step S6 the brake processing is done; if “NO”, the processing proceeds to step S7. Here, in brake processing, based on the pressure sensing value, the corresponding braking distance in the game is selected from the table shown in FIG. 3A, and a car behavior corresponding to this braking distance is shown as an animation. When it exceeds the braking distance, the car is stopped. As an operation, an animation is shown of how the car is trying to stop based on the pressure sensing values read until it stops.

[0042] In step S7, it is determined whether there is any input from the pressure sensing switch corresponding to the accelerator; if “YES”, the processing proceeds to step S8, and in step S8 the accelerator processing is done; if “NO”, the processing returns to step S1. Here, in accelerator processing, based on the pressure sensing value, the corresponding speed in the game is selected from the table shown in FIG. 3B, and the update speed of the background scene can be changed according to this speed. Normally, the value is read every frame or every several frames, and based on this the position of the car along the course is determined, and the image is rendered based on this position.

[0043] As described above, in this embodiment, braking, acceleration, and steering are done based on pressure sensing values, which can increase enjoyment of the game and improve the user interface over just pressing simple on-off switches.

[0044] Moreover, the rate of change may be determined from the previous pressure sensing value and the current sensing value and set the speed, braking distance, and position in accordance with this rate of change. For example, if the previous-time pressure sensing value is 100 and the current pressure sensing value is 50, the rate of change is 50%, so the speed, braking distance, and position can be made ½of what they were the previous time.

[0045]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the controller 200 connected to entertainment system 500. The controller 200 is removably connected to the entertainment system 500, and the entertainment system 500 is connected to television monitor 408.

[0046] The entertainment system 500 reads the program for a computer game from recording media upon which that program is recorded and by executing the program, displays characters on the television monitor 408. The entertainment system 500 has also various built-in functions for DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) playback, CDDA (compact disc digital audio) playback and the like. The signals form the controller 200 are also processed as one of the aforementioned control functions within the entertainment system 500, and the content thereof may be reflected in the movement of the characters and the like, on the television monitor 408.

[0047] While this depends also on the content of the computer game program, controller 200 may be allocated functions for moving the characters displayed on the television monitor 408 in the directions up, down, left or right.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 6 here follows a description of the interior of the entertainment system 500 shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the entertainment system 500.

[0049] A CPU 401 is connected to RAM 402 and a bus 403, respectively. Connected to bus 403 are a graphics processor unit (GPU) 404 and an input/output processor (I/O) 409, respectively. The GPU 404 is connected via an encoder 407 for converting a digital RGB signal or the like into the NTSC standard television format, for example, to a television monitor (TV) 408 as a peripheral. Connected to the I/O 409 are a driver (DRV) 410 used for the playback and decoding of data recorded upon an optical disc 411, a sound processor (SP) 412, an external memory 415 consisting of flash memory, controller 200 and a ROM 416 which records the operating system and the like. The SP 412 is connected via an amplifier 413 to a speaker 414 as a peripheral.

[0050] Here, the external memory 415 may be a card-type memory consisting of a CPU or a gate array and flash memory, which is removably connected via a connector 511 to the entertainment system 500 shown in FIG. 5. The controller 200 is configured such that, when a plurality of buttons provided thereupon are pushed, it gives instructions to the entertainment system 500. In addition, the driver 410 is provided with a decoder for decoding images encoded based upon the MPEG standard.

[0051] The description will be made now as to how the images will be displayed on the television monitor 408 based on the operation of controller 200. It is assumed that data for objects consisting of polygon vertex data, texture data and the like recorded on the optical disc 411 is read by the driver 410 and stored in the RAM 42 of the CPU 401.

[0052] When instructions from the player via controller 200 are provided as an input to the entertainment system 500, the CPU 401 calculates the three-dimensional position and orientation of objects with respect to the point of view based on these instructions. Thereby, the polygon vertex data for objects defined by X, Y, Z coordinate values are modified variously. The modified polygon vertex data is subjected to perspective conversion processing and converted into two-dimensional coordinate data.

[0053] The regions specified by two-dimensional coordinates are so-called polygons. The converted coordinate data, Z data and texture data are supplied to the GPU 404. Based on this converted coordinate data, Z data and texture data, the GPU 404 performs the drawing process by writing texture data sequentially into the RAM 405. One frame of image data, upon which the drawing process is completed, is encoded by the encoder 407 and then supplied to the television monitor 408 and displayed on its screen as an image.

[0054]FIG. 7 is a top view of controller 200. The controller 200 consists of a unit body 201 on the top surface of which are provided first and second control parts 210 and 220, and on the side surface of which are provided third and fourth control parts 230 and 240 of the controller 200.

[0055] The first control part 210 of the controller, is provided with a cruciform control unit 211 used for pushing control, and the individual control keys 211 a extending in each of the four directions of the control unit 211 form a control element. The first control part 210 is the control part for providing movement to the characters displayed on the screen of the television receiver, and has the functions for moving the characters in the up, down, left and right directions by pressing the individual control keys 211 a of the cruciform control unit 211.

[0056] The second control part 220 is provided with four cylindrical control buttons 221 (control elements) for pushing control. The individual control buttons 221 have identifying marks such as “O” (circle), “X” (cross), “Δ” (triangle) and “□” (quadrangle) on their tops, in order to easily identify the individual control buttons 221. The functions of the second control part 220 are set by the game program recorded upon the optical disc 411, and the individual control buttons 221 may be allocated functions that change the state of the game characters, for example. For example, the control button 221 may be allocated functions for moving the left arm, right arm, left leg and right leg of the character.

[0057] The third and fourth control parts 230 and 240 of the controller have nearly the same structure, and both are provided with two control buttons 231 and 241 (control elements) for pushing control, arranged above and below. The functions of these third and fourth control parts 230 and 240 are also set by the game program recorded upon the optical disc, and may be allocated functions for making the game characters do special actions, for example.

[0058] Moreover, two joy sticks 251 for performing analog operation are provided upon the unit body 201 shown in FIG. 7. The joy sticks 251 can be switched and used instead of the first and second control parts 210 and 220 described above. This switching is performed by means of an analog selection switch 252 provided upon the unit body 201. When the joy sticks 251 are selected, a display lamp 253 provided on the unit body 201 lights, indicating the state wherein the joy sticks 251 are selected.

[0059] It is to be noted that on unit body 201 there are also provided a start switch 254 for starting the game and a select switch 255 for selecting the degree of difficulty or the like at the start of a game, and the like.

[0060] Controller 200 is held by the left hand and the right hand of the player and is operated by the other fingers of the player, and in particular the player's thumbs are able to operate most of the buttons on the top surface.

[0061]FIG. 8 and FIGS. 9A-9C are, respectively, an exploded perspective view and cross-sectional views showing the second control part of the controller.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 8, the second control part 220 consists of four control buttons 221 which serve as the control elements, an elastic body 222, and a sheet member 223 provided with resistors 40. The individual control buttons 221 are inserted from behind through insertion holes 201 a formed on the upper surface of the unit body 201. The control buttons 221 inserted into the insertion holes 201 a are able to move freely in the axial direction.

[0063] The elastic body 222 is made of insulating rubber or the like and has elastic areas 222 a which protrude upward, and the lower ends of the control buttons 221 are supported upon the upper walls of the elastic areas 222 a. When the control buttons 221 are pressed, the inclined-surface portions of these elastic areas 222 a flex so that the upper walls move together with the control buttons 221. On the other hand, when the pushing pressure on the control buttons 221 is released, the flexed inclined-surface portions of elastic areas 222 a elastically return to their original shape, pushing up the control buttons 221. The elastic body 222 functions as a spring means whereby control buttons 221 which had been pushed in by a pushing action are returned to their original positions. As shown in FIGS. 9A-9C conducting members 50 are attached to the rear surface of the elastic body 222.

[0064] The sheet member 223 consists of a membrane or other thin sheet material which has flexibility and insulating properties. Resistors 40 are provided in appropriate locations on this sheet member 223 and these resistors 40 and conducting member 50 are each disposed such that they face one of the control buttons 221 via the elastic body 222. The resistors 40 and conducting members 50 form pressure-sensitive devices. These pressure-sensitive devices consisting of resistors 40 and conducting members 50 have resistance values that vary depending on the pushing pressure received form the control buttons 221.

[0065] To describe this in more detail, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, the second control part 220 is provided with control buttons 221 as control elements, an elastic body 222, conducting members 50 and resistors 40. Each conducting member 50 may be made of conductive rubber which has elasticity, for example, and has a conical shape with its enter as a vertex. The conducting members 50 are adhered to the inside of the top surface of the elastic areas 222 a formed in the elastic body 222.

[0066] In addition, the resistors 40 may be provided on an internal board 204, for example, opposite the conducting members 50, so that the conducting members 50 come into contact with resistors 40 together with the pushing action of the control buttons 221.

[0067] The conducting member 50 deforms, depending on the pushing force on the control button 221 (namely the contact pressure with the resistor 40), so as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the surface area in contact with the resistor 40 varies depending on the pressure. To wit, when the pressing force on the control button 221 is weak, as shown in FIG. 9B, only the area near the conical tip of the conducting member 50 is in contact. As the pressing force on the control button 221 becomes stronger, the tip of the conducting member 50 deforms gradually so the surface area in contact expands.

[0068]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit for a pressure-sensitive device consisting of a resistor 40 and conducting member 50. As shown in this diagram, the pressure-sensitive device is inserted in series in a power supply line 13, where the voltage V_(cc) is applied between the electrodes 40 a and 40 b. As shown in this diagram, the pressure-sensitive device is divided into a variable resistor 42 that has the relatively small resistance value of the conducting member 50, and a fixed resistor 41 that has the relatively large resistance value of the resistor 40. Among these, the portion of the variable resistor 42 is equivalent to the portion of resistance in the contact between the resistor 40 and the conducting member 50, so the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive device varies depending on the surface area of contact with the conducting member 50.

[0069] When the conducting member 50 comes into contact with the resistor 40, in the portion of contact, the conducting member 50 becomes a bridge instead of the resistor 40 and a current flows, so the resistance value becomes smaller in the portion of contact. Therefore, the greater the surface area of contact between the resistor 40 and conducting member 50, the lower the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive device becomes. In this manner, the entire pressure-sensitive device can be understood to be a variable resistor. Note that FIGS. 9A-9C show only the contact portion between the conducting member 50 and resistor 40 which forms the variable resistor 42 of FIG. 10, but the fixed resistor of FIG. 10 is omitted from FIGS. 9A-9C.

[0070] In the preferred embodiment, an output terminal is provided near the boundary between the variable resistor 42 and fixed resistor 41, namely near the intermediate point of the resistors 40, and thus a voltage stepped down from the applied voltage V_(cc) by the amount the variable resistance is extracted as an analog signal corresponding to the pushing pressure by the user on the control button 221.

[0071] First, since a voltage is applied to the resistor 40 when the power is turned on, even if the control button 221 is not pressed, a faxed analog signal (voltage) V_(min) is provided as the output from the output terminal 40 c. Next, even if the control button 221 is pressed, the resistance value of this resistor 40 does not change until the conducting member 50 contacts the resistor 40, so the output from the resistor 40 remains unchanged at V_(min).

[0072] If the control button 221 is pushed further and the conducting member 50 comes into contact with the resistor 40, the surface area of contact between the conducting member 50 and the resistor 40 increases in response to the pushing pressure on the control button 221, and thus the resistance of the resistor 40 is reduced so the analog signal (voltage) output form the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 increases. Furthermore, the analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 reaches the maximum V_(max) when the conducting member 50 is most deformed.

[0073]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the controller 200.

[0074] An MPU 14 mounted on the internal board of the controller 200 is provided with a switch 18 and an A/D converter 16. The analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 is provided as the input to the A/D converter 16 and is converted to a digital signal.

[0075] The digital signal output form the A/D converter 16 is sent via an interface 17 provided upon the internal board of the controller 200 to the entertainment system 500 and the actions of game characters and the like are executed based on this digital signal.

[0076] Changes in the level of the analog signal output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 correspond to changes in the pushing pressure received form the control button 221 (control element) as described above. Therefore, the digital signal outputted from the A/D converter 16 corresponds to the pushing pressure on the control button 221 (control element) from the user. If the actions of the game characters and the like are controlled based on the digital signal that has such a relationship with the pushing pressure form the user, it is possible to achieve smoother and more analog-like action than with control based on a binary digital signal based only on zeroes and ones.

[0077] The configuration is such that the switch 18 is controlled by a control signal sent form the entertainment system 500 based on a game program recorded on an optical disc 411. When a game program recorded on optical disc is executed by the entertainment system 500, depending on the content of the game program, a control signal is provided as output to specify whether the A/D converter 16 is to function as a means of providing output of a multi-valued analog signal, or as a means of providing a binary digital signal. Based on this control signal, the switch 18 is switched to select the function of the A/D converter 16.

[0078]FIGS. 12 and 13 show an example of the configuration of the first control part of the controller.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 12, the first control part 210 includes a cruciform control unit 211, a spacer 212 that positions this control unit 211, and an elastic body 213 that elastically supports the control unit 211. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, a conducting member 50 is attached to the rear surface of the elastic body 213, and the configuration is such that resistors 40 are disposed at the positions facing the individual control keys 211 a (control elements) of the control unit 211 via the elastic body 213.

[0080] The overall structure of the first control part 210 has already been made public knowledge in the publication of unexamined Japanese patent application No. JP-A-H8-163672. The control unit 211 uses a hemispherical projection 212 a formed in the center of a spacer 212 as a fulcrum, and the individual control keys 21 a (control elements) are assembled such that they can push on the resistor 40 side (see FIG. 13).

[0081] Conducting members 50 are adhered to the inside of the top surface of the elastic body 213 in positions corresponding to the individual control keys 211 a (control elements) of the cruciform control unit 211. In addition, the resistors 40 with a single structure are disposed such that they face the individual conducting members 50.

[0082] When the individual control keys 211 a which are control elements are pushed, the pushing pressure acts via the elastic body 213 on the pressure-sensitive devices consisting of a conducting member 50 and resistor 40, so that its electrical resistance value varies depending on the magnitude of the pushing pressure.

[0083]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the resistor. As shown in this diagram, the resistor 40 is inserted in series in a power supply line 13, where a voltage is applied between the electrodes 40 a and 40 b. The resistance of this resistor 40 is illustrated schematically, as shown in this diagram; the resistor 40 divided into first and second variable resistors 43 and 44. Among these, the portion of the first variable resistor 43 is in contact, respectively, with the conducting member 50 that moves together with the control key (up directional key) 211 a for moving the character in the up direction, and with the conducting member 50 that moves together with the control key (left directional key) 211 a for a moving the character in the left direction, so its resistance value varies depending on the surface area in contact with these conducting members 50.

[0084] In addition, the portion of the second variable resistor 44 is in contact, respectively, with the conducting member 50 that moves together with the control key (down directional key) 211 a for moving the character in the down direction, and with the conducting member 50 that moves together with the control key (right directional key) 211 a for moving the character in the right direction, so its resistance value varies depending on the surface area in contact with these conducting members 50.

[0085] Moreover, an output terminal 40 c is provided intermediate between the variable resistors 43 and 44, and an analog signal corresponding to the pushing pressure on the individual control keys 211 a (control elements) is provided as output from this output terminal 40 c.

[0086] The output from the output terminal 40 c can be calculated from the ratio of the split in resistance value of the first and second variable resistors 43 and 44. For example, if R1 is the resistance value of the first variable resistor 43, R2 is the resistance value of the second variable resistor 44 and V_(cc) is the power supply voltage, then the output voltage V appearing at the output terminal 40 c can be expressed by the following equation.

V=V _(cc) ×R2/(R1+R2)

[0087] Therefore, when the resistance value of the first variable resistor 43 decreases, the output voltage increases, but when the resistance value of the second variable resistor 44 decreases, the output voltage also decreases.

[0088]FIG. 15 is a graph showing the characteristic of the analog signal (voltage) outputted from the output terminal of the resistor.

[0089] First, since a voltage is applied to the resistor 40 when the power is turned on, even if the individual control keys 211 a of the control unit 211 are not pressed, a fixed analog signal (voltage) V₀ is provided as output from the output terminal 40 c (at position 0 in the graph).

[0090] Next, even if one of the individual control keys 211 a is pressed, the resistance value of this resistor 40 does not change until the conducting member 50 contacts the resistor 40, and the output from the resistor 40 remains unchanged at V₀.

[0091] Furthermore, if the up-directional key or left-directional key is pushed until the conducting member 50 comes into contact with the first variable resistor 43 portion of the resistor 40 (at position p in the graph), thereafter the surface area of contact between the conducting member 50 and the first variable resistor 43 portion increases in response to the pushing pressure on the control key 211 a (control elements), and thus the resistance of that portion is reduced so the analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 increases. Furthermore, the analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 reaches the maximum V_(max) when the conducting member 50 is most deformed (at position q in the graph)

[0092] On the other hand, if the down-directional key or right-directional key is pushed until the conducting member 50 comes into contact with the second variable resistor 44 portion of the resistor 40 (at position r in the graph), thereafter the surface area of contact between the conducting member 50 and the second variable resistor 44 portion increases in response to the pushing pressure on the control key 211 a (control elements), and thus the resistance of that portion is reduced, and as a result, the analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 decreases. Furthermore, the analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 reaches the minimum V_(min) when the conducting member 50 is most deformed (at position s in the graph).

[0093] As shown in FIG. 16, the analog signal (voltage) output from the output terminal 40 c of the resistor 40 is provided as input to an A/D converter 16 and converted to a digital signal. Note that the function of the A/D converter 16 shown in FIG. 16 is as described previously based on FIG. 11, so a detailed description shall be omitted here.

[0094]FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the third control part of the controller.

[0095] The third control part 230 consists of two control buttons 231, a spacer 232 for positioning these control buttons 231 within the interior of the controller 200, a holder 233 that supports these control buttons 231, an elastic body 234 and an internal board 235, having a structure wherein resistors 40 are attached to appropriate locations upon the internal board 235 and conducting members 50 are attached to the rear surface of the elastic body 234.

[0096] The overall structure of the third control part 230 also already has been made public knowledge in the publication of unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-H8-163672, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The individual control buttons 231 can be pushed in while being guided by the spacer 232, the pushing pressure when the bottoms 231 are pressed acts via the elastic body 234 on the pressure-sensitive device consisting of a conducting member 50 and resistor 40. The electrical resistance value of the pressure-sensitive device varies depending on the magnitude of the pushing pressure it receives.

[0097] It is noted that the fourth control part 240 has the same structure as that of the third control part 230 described above.

[0098] In the above description, a flowchart for braking, acceleration, and steering based on pressure sensing values was shown in FIG. 4. This program can be provided either in a form recorded individually on a recording medium such as an optical disk, or in the form recorded on said recording medium together with game software as part of the game software. The program for braking, acceleration, and steering based on pressure sensing values is activated on entertainment system 500 and executed on its CPU.

[0099] Here, the significance of the program for braking, acceleration, and steering based on pressure sensing values being provided recorded individually on a recording medium is that it is made available previously as a library for software development. As is well known, in developing software it takes an enormous amount of time to write all the functions.

[0100] But if the software functions are broken up into single functions, then many functions will be included that are used in common by various software, such as the function of causing objects to move.

[0101] Thus functions that can be used in common such as this embodiment can be provided to software manufacturers as library programs. By having others provide such generalized functions, software manufacturers can concentrate on just producing the essential part of their software.

[0102] In the foregoing, an embodiment has been described above. However, alternative but substitution examples such as the embodiments are also possible in the described embodiment, the pressure sensing value pressed by the user is used as is. However, in order to compensate for differences in users' physical strength or nervous reactions, the maximum value of a user's pressure sensing value can be corrected to the maximum game pressure sensing value set by the program, with intermediate values corrected proportionately. Such compensation is done by preparing a compensation table. Also, a user's pressure sensing value can be corrected by a well known function and used as the game pressure sensing value. In addition, the maximum value of a user's pressure sensing value rate of change can be corrected to a program-set maximum game pressure sensing value rate of change, with intermediate values corrected proportionately. For these specific techniques, see the present inventors' Japanese Patent Application H 2000-40257 and the corresponding PCTG/JP______/______ (Applicant's file reference No. SC00097WO00).

[0103] With this invention, an interface can be provided that is easier to use than operating a car by pressing or continuing to press simple on-off switches.

[0104] With this invention, braking, acceleration, and steering are done based on pressure sensing values, thus making is possible to realize an entertainment system that increases enjoyment of the game by a user and improves the user interface compared to just pressing simple on-off switches. 

1. A recording medium on which are recorded driving game programs that can be read and executed by a computer having a controller, the recording medium comprising software programs that process as commands an output from a controller that has a pressure sensing means, wherein said software programs include processing programs that operate a car viewed on a screen of the computer in accordance with an output of said controller.
 2. The recording medium as described in claim 1 , wherein operation functions of the car operated in accordance with the output of said controller include braking and change of speed in accordance with an operation of an accelerator and steering.
 3. A computer comprising a pressure-sensitive controller and using a car driving game program executed on the computer; and, a processing means that operates a car viewed on a screen by the computer in accordance with an output of said controller.
 4. The computer as described in claim 3 , wherein said processing means executes operation functions of the car by at least one of braking and change of speed operations in accordance with an operation of an accelerator, and steering.
 5. The computer as described in claim 3 , wherein said processing means executes at least one of braking and change of speed operations in accordance with an operation of the accelerator, and steering in accordance with magnitudes of output values of the controller.
 6. The computer as described in claim 3 , wherein said processing means executes at least one of braking and change of speed operations in accordance with an operation of the accelerator, and steering in accordance with the rate of change between a previous-time output value and a current time output value of the controller.
 7. A method, using a computer which includes a controller having a pressure sensing means and on which a driving game software program can be executed, the method comprising the steps of: detecting an operation pressure of a user on said controller by said pressure sensing means and generating pressure sensing signals; and operating a car viewed on a screen of a computer in accordance with said pressure sensing signals.
 8. The method as described in claim 7 , wherein the step in which the car viewed on the screen of the computer is operated in accordance with said pressure sensing signals, operation functions of the car are operated by at least one of braking and change of speed operations in accordance with an operation of an accelerator, and steering.
 9. The method as described in claim 7 , wherein in the step in which the car on the viewed screen of the computer is operated in accordance with said pressure sensing signals at least one of braking and change of speed operations is executed in accordance with an operation of an accelerator, and steering in correspondence with the magnitude of an operation pressure of the user on the controller, sensed said pressure sensing means.
 10. The method as described in claim 7 , wherein the step in which the car viewed on the screen of the computer is operated in accordance with said pressure sensing signals, executes at least one of the braking and change of speed operations in accordance with an operation of an accelerator, and steering in correspondence with the rate of change between a previous-time operation pressure and a current time operation pressure of the user sensed by said pressure sensing means. 